Multiple configuration portable easel

ABSTRACT

An easel comprises a base and a hinge coupled to a top portion of the base. The easel further includes a plurality of arms depending from a front member of the hinge and a plurality of retention clips, each one of the retention clips disposed on each one of the arms. A plurality of support braces depend from a rear member of the hinge, each one of the support braces coupled to one of the plurality of arms. A plurality of legs depend from the base. The arms, braces and legs permit the easel to be manipulated into a variety of positions and angles to accommodate the artist&#39;s preferences. Each retention clip accommodates variable positions of a canvass relative to the arms and braces. The legs comprise a joint that is variably positionable relative to the base, with the joint articulating in a recess formed in the base.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of prior application Ser. No. 11/396,822 filed on Apr. 3, 2006.

BACKGROUND

This application discloses claims and embodiments generally related to an easel, and more particularly, a multiple configuration portable easel.

An easel is commonly used by an artist to hold various media, such as a canvass, pad of paper and/or drawing board. The easel allows the artist to comfortably write, sculpt, draw or paint on the medium held by the easel. Thereafter, an easel may also be used to hold one or more completed works, including framed artwork and other planar objects suitable for display. The majority of available easels are designed to be portable and adjustable to some degree. However, portable easels are not always easily transportable by collapsing into a small format.

Portable and/or adjustable easels may be manufactured from wood, metal or composite materials. Such easels typically range in weight from 1.5 pounds to 15 pounds. Generally, easels have a tray projecting from the tripod easel to support the canvas from the bottom, such that the top of the canvas simply reclines against the easel stand. Most have a clamping member for accepting the top edge of an artwork, preventing the artwork from falling off the tray.

A common type of portable easel is a folding tripod easel. Tripod easels can adjust the height of the artwork by adjustable legs. The upright tripod base tends to be unstable, and tips over easily when the wind catches a painting like a sail in outdoors use. This type of easel is most often used to hold or display smaller canvasses ranging from 4 inches by 6 inches to 18 inches by 24 inches. The easel legs often use pivotal tie-bars, or braces that fold down, to stabilize the legs. The tripod easel can also be equipped with chains to keep the legs from folding out too far to an unstable angle. The tripod easel typically uses the rear leg as the method of adjusting the angle of the canvas from leaning away from the artist toward the vertical, the preferred view for painting. The closer the canvas is to vertical, the more the rear leg must be drawn to the front legs, making the easel less stable and more likely to tip over. Therefore, an improved system for adjusting the angle of an artwork and stabilizing the base is needed for folding metal tripod easels.

At present, there are a variety of commercially available easels that claim a lightweight frame that is collapsible and easily transformable from a usable configuration to a stowable configuration. However, the art does not appear to disclose the combination of elements and features disclosed herein, including the novel combination of elements and/or materials disclosed hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment, an easel comprises a base and a hinge coupled to a top portion of the base. The easel further includes a plurality of arms depending from a front member of the hinge and a plurality of retention clips, each one of the retention clips disposed on each one of the arms. A plurality of support braces depend from a rear member of the hinge, each one of the support braces coupled to one of the plurality of arms. A plurality of legs depend from the base.

In accordance with another embodiment, each one of the retention clips comprises a body having a front body and a rear body. A plurality of surfaces are formed on the circumference of the front body. A plurality of apertures, each one of the apertures formed each one of the surfaces of the front body. An L-shaped key selectively inserted into one of the apertures, and a nut inserted into a threaded channel to selectively secure or release the key. A bore formed in the rear body, the bore aligned perpendicularly to the nut, the bore receiving one of the arms. A tab selectively locking and releasing the arm within the bore.

In accordance with another embodiment, each one of the legs comprises a joint having a flat portion and an angled portion. A channel is formed in the flat portion and the angled portion, channel accommodating the releasable catch. An underside of the joint communicating with one of the recesses to form variable angles of dependency from the base.xx.

In accordance with one of the embodiment, each arm and brace may be mutually coupled via a band, the band allowing the brace to reinforce the arm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of a first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a front view with an arm rotated downward;

FIG. 5 is a front view with another arm rotated downward;

FIG. 6 is another perspective view of a first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a side view;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are front and side views of a first embodiment collapsed for storage or transport;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view;

FIG. 10A-10D are various views of the base and holder;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view;

FIG. 12 is a front view of a second embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a second embodiment;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of the base, hinge and coupled arms, braces and legs;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective view of a retention clip; and

FIG. 16 is a top view of the retention clip.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

FIGS. 1-11 discloses an improved easel 10 in accordance with the present invention. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below where specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. With reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is a novel lightweight, portable, collapsible easel 10. Easel 10 includes a K-base 12, a plurality of adjustable support legs 20, attached with a tension pin 40, an H-holder 16, with an attached hinge mechanism 14, and a plurality of openings 50 for insertion of a plurality of adjustable clutches 18. Adjustable clutches 18 are attached to an adjustable arm 22. A sliding, adjustable, J-holder 24 is attached to arm 22 with an adjustable artwork holder clamp 36.

In one embodiment of the invention, an easel 10 comprises two functional sections, K-base 12 and H-holder 16, which are fastened together with an adjustable hinge mechanism 14. The adjustable hinge mechanism 14 may comprise two adjustable clutches 14A and 14B. This connection is best seen in FIGS. 6, 7, 9, 10A and B. The two adjustable clutches 14A and 14B are bolted through a cutout member 48 of K-base 12 or attached by other conventional attachments, which is depicted in FIGS. 10C and 11, respectively. The hinge mechanism 14 operates by loosening adjustable clutches 14A and 14B so that H holder 16 can swing from an open position in FIG. 7 to a closed position in FIG. 8B for storage and transportation.

K-base 12 forms a stable base for easel 10. K-base 12 has been formed in the approximate shape of the letter K (e.g. FIG. 9). K-base may be machined from a solid block of aluminum having a flat front face 60. A raised central block 58 may be manufactured by cutting away excess metal from the original solid block. The central block 58 may be joined to a plurality of projecting, roughly rectangular, leg supports 54A, 54B, 56C and 56D. Sharp angles may be removed from leg supports by machining for appearance and safety. Front leg supports 54 may be located on either side of central block 58. Two back leg supports 56 project at angles from the central block 58.

A cutout 42 in front leg support 54 and in rear leg support 56 may be provided. These cutouts 42 are hollowed out of the bottom face of the solid metal K-base 12, best seen in FIG. 10C. Legs 20 may be fastened through tension pins 40 inserted into holes drilled in K-base 12, allowing maximum width and stability. Each leg 20 may pivot from a position where legs 20 are aligned side by side to a position where legs 20 are spread laterally. The width of spread legs enables an artist to work while seated.

Two front legs 20A and 20B may be joined, coupled or fastened to front leg supports 54A and 54B whereby the legs 20A and 20B project laterally in the first plane of direction. Two back legs 20C and 20D may be joined, coupled or fastened to the rear leg supports 56A and 56B whereby the rear legs 20C and 20D project at an angle from the central block 58. Cutouts 42C and 42D are angled such that rear legs 20C and 20D project to rear of easel 10 in a slightly more obtuse angle than the angle of front legs 20A and 20B. This tilts K-base 12 of easel 10 to a slight angle. This stabilizes heavier paintings on the front of easel 10. Base 12 permits less material to be used in construction, reducing weight and size.

Support legs 20 may be pivotally coupled or connected to base 12 by at least one tension pin 40A. Each leg 20 may be individually adjustable in length, permitting easel 10 to be placed on uneven surface. Each leg 20 comprises a first extension 62 and a second extension 64 telescopically coupled to one another. Second extension 64 has at least a portion thereof telescopically received in the open-faced channel of first extension 62. Second extension 64 is secured in position with a clamp 28 extending from second extension 64 through a slot of first extension 62.

The angles in cutouts 42 for all legs 20 may be identical, which is preferable for the broadest range of H-holder 16 positions, as adjusted by hinge 14. Cutout 42 comprises a first open end directed generally transverse or angled to a plane of the base and a second open end directed generally parallel to the plane of the base as seen in FIG. 10C and FIG. 11. Legs 20 are movable from a folded and supportive position in which leg 20 extends through the second open end of cutout 42, to an unfolded and supportive position wherein leg 20 extends to first transverse end of cutout 42 (e.g. FIG. 7 and FIG. 8B).

The angles of the transverse ends of cutouts 42C and 42D for rear legs 56A and 56B can be slightly more obtuse than those of front legs 20A and 20B. This configuration tilts K-base 12 of easel 10 to a slight angle of 1 to 30 degrees. This tilt offsets the force of heavier paintings on the front of the easel held by the arm holder in the vertical position. This design permits the artist to extend their legs under the base when they are painting in the seated position. Base 12 also permits less material to be used in construction, reducing weight, cost and size.

Feet 32 may include a steel or carbide spike for outdoors use with a protective, non-slip plastic or rubber foot covers for use inside as illustrated in FIG. 1. Feet 32 may have a screw-on plastic or rubber dome baskets 30 similar to those used for hiking or skiing poles. The baskets 30 prevent legs 20 from sinking too far into soft earth or sand. It is understood that other mechanisms exist to serve the function of staking legs 20 into the ground to provide stability for outdoor painting such as leg spikes and could be used in some embodiments of the easel. Leveling glides may also be substituted for spikes for indoor use in other embodiments of the easel 10.

The H-holder assembly 16 may be made of three hollow pieces of metal tube welded together. A tube 52A and a second identical tube 52B may have an elbow-shape and a tube 52C is straight. Tube 52C is joined to the proximal ends of tube 52A and tube 52B by welding and forms the shape of the letter H. Since H-holder 16 is made of three tubes, there are six openings into which adjustable clutches may be inserted (e.g. FIG. 10D). H-holder 16 may be formed from a single, solid member in this approximate shape as long as sufficient openings are formed to insert connecting adjustable clutches. Adjustable clutches 14 and 18 have two projecting ends which can be inserted into six H-holder ends to connect to K-base 12 and arms 22.

The H-holder 16 serves at least two functions: connecting to base 12 and forming hinge 14 through adjustable clutches 14A and 14B. Hinge 14 may be manipulated and variably positionable to place artwork in a flat table-top position or in a vertical position or in a tilted forward position. Adjustable clutches 14A and 14B permit this hinge mechanism 14 to be rigidly locked in place in the preferred embodiment. This mechanism is robust so that easel 10 holds larger and heavier artwork than other lightweight portable easels. Hinge mechanism 14 permits the elbow-curve of H-holder 16 to fold down over base 12 and legs 20 for compact storage as illustrated in FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B.

An additional opening, cutout 48, may be machined into base 12 to allow adjustable clutches 14A and 14B to be bolted securely through the base without projecting out below the plane of the base.

Adjustable clutches 14A and 14B are then inserted into distal ends of tube 52A and tubes 52B of H-holder 16, and fastened securely. Appropriate fasteners include but not limited to bolts, rivets, compression fasteners or welds. It is understood that there exist other mechanisms which could serve this hinge function, including but not limited to 3-way pan/tilt heads or ball heads used for adjustable camera tripods.

The second function of H-holder 16 is to hold the plurality of movable expandable arms 20 in such a manner that they can be adjusted to form a planar system for holding artwork or other objects. The ends of two additional adjustable clutches 18A and 18B are fastened in place on the left and right ends of transverse spanning member 52C of H-holder 16. The distal ends of adjustable clutches 18C and 18D are fastened securely in place on the proximal ends of tubes 52A and 52B of H-holder 16. The proximal ends of adjustable clutches 18 are attached to distal ends of the adjustable, telescoping arms 22. In one embodiment, there are four arms 22 connected to H-holder 16 in openings 50 through four adjustable clutches 18. This is accomplished using a plurality of fasteners which connect the distal end of adjustable clutch 18 to arm 22 and the proximal end of adjustable clutch 18 to opening 50 in H-holder 16 (e.g. FIG. 10C). Appropriate fasteners include but not limited to bolts, rivets, compression fasteners or welds. In one embodiment, one adjustable clutch is fastened to each of the four ends of H-holder 16 in a plane (e.g. FIG. 9). The clutches 18 permit each of the arms 22 to be individually moved in a 200 degree radius within this plane when the clutch is loosened, and then locked into place when the clutch is tightened.

When arms 22 are moved using adjustable clutches 18, these arms 22 form a flat surface upon which the artwork can be held in place using J-shaped clamping members 24. J-holder 24 can be selectively up and down along telescoping arms 22. The movement of lower arm 22 A is illustrated in FIG. 4. The movement of upper arms 22D is illustrated in FIG. 5. FIG. 2 shows adjustable arms 22 positioned to hold a rectangular canvas or other flat artwork. FIG. 3 shows adjustable arms 22 positioned to hold a non-rectangular flat artwork.

Arms 22 may be used to position J-holder assembly 24 to grasp the artwork on its outside surface, enabling any reasonable flat artwork to be positioned by hinge 14 at any desired angle, including parallel to the ground. The use of other locking mechanisms than adjustable clutches 18 may also permit the variety of orientations of arms 22 and would be equally appropriate. Artists position artwork on easels in a range of positions to improve application of art materials without running or smudging them. Artists position artwork in a range of positions to observe the artwork from a variety of angles during the process of creation of the artwork.

The adjustable clutches 18 enable arms 22 to swing out to hold nonrectangular paintings and to position rectangular paintings on the diagonal. In conjunction with hinge function 14 of H-holder 16, adjustable arms 22 can be positioned to hold the artwork in an ergonomic position, so that fatigue, strain and injury from repetitive motion at an uncomfortable height or angle can be minimized. Adjustable arms 22 provide an increased display surface where up to four artworks can be accessed in a variety of orientations in the X, Y and Z planes. In terms of three-dimensional motion, the artwork can be adjusted to have pitch or roll, but not yaw.

Each of arms 22 may comprise extruded telescoping tubing, cut to desired lengths and attached with rivets to adjustable clutches 18. Other attachment mechanisms, including screw, blot, ball and socket, ball and cuff mechanisms and pressure lock joint systems would be appropriate to secure arm 22 to adjustable clutch 18.

Each arm 22 may be individually adjustable in length. Each arm 22 comprises a first extension 68 and a second extension 66 telescopically coupled to one another. Second extension 66 has at least a portion thereof slidably received in the open-faced channel of first extension 68. Second extension 66 is secured in position with a clamp 26 extending from second extension 66 through a slot of first extension 68. The legs and arms are made of metal alloy. It would be readily evident to one skilled in the art that other materials would include aluminum, steel, titanium or equivalent materials.

The large extension of arms 22 permits easel 10 to expand to hold a larger size range of canvases or artworks than other collapsible portable easels. Artwork ranging in size from six by four and one half inches to eight feet by eight feet may be held in position for painting or display. Adjustable arms 22 can each hold an individual canvas, allowing an artist to create or display a related group of paintings such as a diptych or triptych. Adjustable arms 22 can be positioned ergonomically so that fatigue, strain, and injury from repetitive movement at an uncomfortable angle or height can be minimized.

Artwork is held in position on the plane created by adjusting arms 22 on easel 10 through attaching the artwork using J-holder assemblies 24, one for each arm 22. A J-shaped assembly 24 may comprise three members joined together (e.g. FIG. 8B). J-shaped piece is 40C. It is understood however, that this member may have another shape or profile that can achieve the same result. A flat piece of metal 34C is attached parallel to the back of J-member 40C by a rivet 38 or other appropriate fastener that will permit J-member 40C to move in 360 degrees of rotation. Flat piece of metal 34C is attached horizontally to J-member 40C by a weld to an annular clamp 36 that hinges at one side and is fastened by an adjustable knob. This allows J-holder assembly 24 to be adjusted by moving it up and down arms 22. Positioning J-holder assembly 24 along adjustable arm 22 enables easel 10 to hold varying sizes and shapes of artwork.

Each J-holder assembly 24 can be placed along any position on the widest diameter tubing of telescoping arm 22 using adjustable annular clamp 26. This comprises a mechanism of enabling easel 10 to accommodate a range of artwork dimensions. J-holder assembly 24 stably holds the artwork close to supporting arm 22 by directing the force of the artwork to press J-shaped member 40 C against flat rectangular member 34 C. J-holder assembly 24 can be covered by a plastic sleeve, which provides a flat, grooved surface to hold thinner boards, such as Masonite boards. It is readily evident to one skilled in the art that other adjustable holder and clamp systems may also be used to affix artworks to the easel. J holder assembly 24 effectively holds artwork with canvases attached to stretchers. In this embodiment, the clamp and friction stabilize the heavy artwork on the light weight easel.

Support legs 20 may be pivotally connected and moveable between folded positions and extended, supportive positions. Folded easel 10 then fits within a storage bag. It is collapsible without disassembly of arms 22, legs 20 or painting supports from base 12 and H-holder 16. The arms 22 may be moved into a vertical side by side position in relation to legs 20, enabling easel 10 to be folded into a compact and easily transportable configuration.

In another embodiment of the invention, an easel 100 is disclosed having a base 110 coupled with a hinge 120. The base 110 may have a variety of forms to accommodate a plurality of legs depending therefrom to support the easel 100 from a ground surface. The base 110 may include a plurality of recesses 112 along a perimeter to communicate with and accommodate the joint(s) of the legs depending therefrom. Although four (4) legs are depicted in the figures, it is envisioned that the easel 100 may be equipped with at least three (3) legs or more to provide the desired stability. Accordingly, the number of legs will influence the number of recesses formed and utilized in the base 110.

The legs 130 may include at least a first post 132 and a second post 134 and a foot 136 disposed at the end of the leg 130. A selectively releasable clamp 138 may also be included to permit telescopic adjustment of the posts 132 and 134 relative to one another. In one example, the first post 132 has a cross-sectional diameter greater than the second post 134, with the second post 134 telescopically adjustable with in the first post 132. Thus, the second post 134 may be selectively retracted and extended from the first post 132 as desired to adjust the height and/or angle of the easel 100 to accommodate a variety of surfaces and topography. The foot (feet) 136 may be selected from a variety of materials available, including molded rubber or other synthetic materials, with the foot (feet) 136 inhibiting the leg 130 from sliding or moving along a surface. The selectively releasable clamp 138 may be disposed at a terminal end of the first post 132 and communicating with the first post 132 and the second post 134 so as to lock or secure the first post 132 and the second post 134 in a fixed position. The clamp 138 may be selected from a variety of clamps available and suitable for such an arrangement, including clamps having a cam that twist to lock and release two objects or items.

At the end of the leg 130 opposite the foot 136, a joint 131 having a flat portion 133 and an angled portion 135 is depicted (e.g. FIG. 14). The joint 131 may also include a channel 137 formed in the flat portion and the angled portion. The channel 137 accommodates a releasable catch 139 having a catch lever 139 a and a pin 139 b. The channel 137 may be uniform or tapered, wherein tapering would be from one end of the channel to the other. The pin 139 b communicates within the channel 137 and impinged therein via the catch lever 139 a. Thus, a user may release the catch lever 139 a, thereby releasing the pin 139 b, and then moving the leg 130 and setting the joint 131 at an angle to best accommodate the leg 130, with the angle being variable along the underside of the joint 131 that communicates with the recess 112 to form variable angles of dependency of the leg(s) 130 from the base 110.

The hinge 120 depends from a top portion of the base 110. The hinge 120 may be provided in a variety of shapes and forms. In one example, generally depicted in FIG. 12 and FIG. 14, the hinge 120 may comprise a front member 122 and a rear member 124. The arms 140 depend from the front member 122, and the support braces 150 depend from the rear member 124. In one aspect, the front member 122 is approximately orthogonal relative to the rear member 124, with the members 122 and 124 intersect at a junction 126. The front member 122 may be generally upstanding from the rear member 124, and may comprise one or more members forming the front member 122. In FIG. 14, the front member 122 comprises two upstanding studs interconnecting and depending from two studs comprising the rear member 124. The front member 122 may include a plurality of tongues 128 providing places of attachment or dependency between the hinge 120 and the arms 140. In one aspect, the tongues 128 are provided so that two arms 140 may be attached in the same plane at the same height (P1), and two other arms 140 may be attached in the same at the same height (P2) but at a plane and height lower than P1. Each arm 140 may be rotated or otherwise moved along the articulation pin or rivet 129 in an angular path remaining in the same plane (generally denoted by directional arrow A-A in FIG. 12).

The rear member 124 includes a horizontal bearing 125 disposed between a pair of shafts 127 upstanding from the base 110. The stud or studs of the rear member 124 receives the support braces 150 thereon. The braces 150 may be interconnected by a variety of mechanisms, including ring clamps and tongues or other similar elements. It is envisioned that the braces 150 and rear member 124 are configured so that the braces 150 are adjustable in a front-to-back and up-and-down manner to accommodate the various positions that the arms 140 may be positioned into for use.

Each one of the arms 140 comprises at least a first post 142 and a second post 144. A selectively releasable clamp 143 may also be included to permit telescopic adjustment of the posts 142 and 144 relative to one another. In one example, the first post 142 has a cross-sectional diameter greater than the second post 144. The second post 144 may be selectively retracted and extended from the first post 142. The selectively releasable clamp 143 may be disposed at a terminal end of the first post 142 and communicates with the first post 142 and the second post 144. Each arm 140 is coupled with the hinge 120 via an articulating mount 146 coupled with the tongue 128 and having a pin or rivet 129 therein to facilitate rotation or movement of the arm 140 at the mount 146.

Similarly to the arms and legs, the support braces 150 comprises at least a first post 152 and a second post 154. A selectively releasable clamp 153 may also be included to permit telescopic adjustment of the posts 152 and 154 relative to one another. In one example, the first post 152 has a cross-sectional diameter greater than the second post 154, the second post 154 selectively retracted and extended from the first post 152. The selectively releasable clamp 153 may be disposed at a terminal end of the first post 152 and communicates with the first post 152 and the second post 154.

Each one of the arms 140 and support braces 150 are mutually coupled by a band 160. In one aspect, each one of the bands comprises a first ring and a second ring with a rod disposed between the rings. One ring is coupled with the body of the support brace 150 and the other ring is coupled with the body of the arm 140. The interconnection of the arm 140 and brace 150 via the band 160 increases the strength and stability of the easel 100, and allows larger and more bulkier items to be placed thereon for utilization or display. It is envisioned that the band 160 may also include other variable forms and devices suitable for interconnecting an arm and a brace and supporting the arm via the brace and band.

As depicted in FIG. 12, FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, a retention clip 170 is disposed on each arm 140. Each retention clip 170 comprises a body 172 having a front body 172 a and a rear body 172 b. A plurality of surfaces 174 may be formed on the circumference of the front body 172 a. A plurality of apertures 176 may be formed through each one of the surfaces 174 of the front body 172 a. The surfaces 174 may range from four to eight or more. In FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, there are eight surfaces depicted formed at equal intervals and having a hexagonal cross-section. The apertures 176 formed in each surface 174 permits the user to remove the key 178 (described below) and align it through 360 degrees of rotation at 45 degree intervals. This variability allows the user to set the arms 140, braces 150 and clips 170 at an endless variety of angles to accommodate various canvass arrangements as desired.

Through one of the selected apertures 176 is inserted an L-shaped key 178. A nut 180 may be inserted into a threaded channel to selectively secure or release the key 178. A bore 182 may be formed in the rear body 172 b, the bore 182 aligned perpendicularly to the nut 180 with the bore 182 receiving one of the arms 140. A tab 184 may be used to selectively lock and release the arm 140 from within the bore 182.

It is to be understood that the embodiments and claims are not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of the components set forth in the description and illustrated in the drawings. Rather, the description and the drawings provide examples of the embodiments envisioned, but the claims are not limited to the specific embodiments. The embodiments and claims disclosed herein are further capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways, including various combinations and subcombinations that may not have been explicitly disclosed. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting the claims.

Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which the application and claims are based may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the embodiments and claims presented in this application. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions.

Furthermore, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially including the practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent and legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define the claims of the application, nor is it intended to be limiting to the scope of the claims in any way. It is intended that the application is defined by the claimed appended hereto. 

1. An easel comprising: a base; a hinge coupled to a top portion of the base; a plurality of arms depending from a front member of the hinge; a plurality of retention clips, each one of the retention clips disposed on each one of the arms; a plurality of support braces depending from a rear member of the hinge, each one of the support braces coupled to one of the plurality of arms; a plurality of legs depending from the base.
 2. The easel of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of bands, each one of the bands mutually coupling one of the arms and one of the support braces.
 3. The easel of claim 1, wherein each one of the arms comprises: at least a first post and a second post; the first post having a cross-sectional diameter greater than the second post, the second post selectively retracted and extended from the first post; a selectively releasable clamp disposed at a terminal end of the first post and communicating with the first post and the second post.
 4. The easel of claim 1, wherein each one of the arms depends from the hinge via an articulating mount, the arms defining a plane.
 5. The easel of claim 1, wherein each one of the retention clips comprises: a body having a front body and a rear body; a plurality of surfaces formed on the circumference of the front body; a plurality of apertures, each one of the apertures formed each one of the surfaces of the front body; an L-shaped key selectively inserted into one of the apertures; a nut inserted into a threaded channel to selectively secure or release the key; a bore formed in the rear body, the bore aligned perpendicularly to the nut, the bore receiving one of the arms; a tab selectively locking and releasing the arm within the bore.
 6. The easel of claim 1, wherein each one of the support braces comprises: at least a first post and a second post; the first post having a cross-sectional diameter greater than the second post, the second post selectively retracted and extended from the first post; a selectively releasable clamp disposed at a terminal end of the first post and communicating with the first post and the second post.
 7. The easel of claim 1, wherein each one of the support braces depends from the hinge via an articulating mount.
 8. The easel of claim 7, wherein each one of the articulating mounts is adjustable about the hinge.
 9. The easel of claim 1, wherein each one of the legs comprises: at least a first post and a second post; the first post having a cross-sectional diameter greater than the second post, the second post selectively retracted and extended from the first post; a selectively releasable clamp disposed at a terminal end of the first post and communicating with the first post and the second post.
 10. The easel of claim 1, wherein each one of the legs depends from the base via a releasable catch.
 11. The easel of claim 10, wherein the base comprises a plurality of recesses to receive each one of the legs.
 12. The easel of claim 11, wherein each one of the legs comprises: a joint having a flat portion and an angled portion; a channel formed in the flat portion and the angled portion, channel accommodating the releasable catch; an underside of the joint communicating with one of the recesses to form variable angles of dependency from the base. 